Sir Alex Ferguson Named As Manchester United's 'Greatest Icon'

A special poll in Manchester United club magazine Inside United, has named Sir Alex Ferguson as the greatest of the club's icons in the period since the inception of the Premier League in 1992.

Ferguson topped a list, voted for by United fans, that included the likes of French striking great Eric Cantona and midfield dynamo Roy Keane.

Ferguson has a winning record at Old Trafford that is difficult to match in the British game, with the the Scotsman having collected ten Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies, amongst numerous other cups, during his 22 year tenure in England.

Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford in 1987, after making his name in Scottish football with unfancied Aberdeen, who broke the duopoly that Glasgow giants Rangers and Celtic maintained on Scottish honours in the early 1980s.

He arrived at a club in a some state of dishevelment, with United having survived on a fairly meagre diet of a one or two FA Cups since their glory days ended in the early 1970s.

Ferguson changed that round, despite some teething problems that actually saw fans demonstrating for him to be sacked in the late 1980s, and helped turn the club into the global powerhouse it is today.

Celebrity Manchester United fan, television presenter Eamonn Holmes, spoke for all United fans when talking to The Manchester Evening News about Ferguson topping the poll earlier.

"Sir Alex is the master when it come to responding to adversity," said Holmes.

"He has always talked about the importance of bouncing back positively to either a shock defeat or elimination from a competition.

"And not only is he a great tactician and motivator, he is one of the game's great characters.

"You can say what you want about him but he is certainly not dull."

Zack Wilson, Goal.com

Park praises squad

02/02/2009 09:04, Report by Nick Coppack

Ji-sung Park says United’s strength in depth has been the key to the side’s record-breaking run of clean sheets.


The Reds have now gone 12 games without conceding a goal in the league, a feat made all the more impressive when you consider the injuries that have plagued Sir Alex’s regular back four.



“We’ve had a few injuries in the defence so it’s a great achievement,” Park told ManUtd.kr.



“Everybody played their part and the young players who were called on [Rafael, Richard Eckersley] showed great ability on the pitch.



“We started the season with a strong squad and that’s how we’ve been able to set this record. When someone is injured we have another player who can fill the gaps.”



Park also reserved special praise for goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who now holds the English league record for most minutes without conceding.



“Playing for one of the greatest teams in the world at his age [38] is really difficult. He’s a great player, one of the best on the pitch. It’s a great record for him to have. He deserves it.”


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Faubert promises to bring speed to Real Madrid

MADRID (AFP) – French midfielder Julien Faubert said Monday he will contribute speed to Real Madrid as he was officially presented as the spanish club's new player after he completed his six-month loan from West Ham.

"I think I can bring something extra to the team, my speed, my versatility, if I did not believe it I would not be here," the 25-year-old, who scored on his only appearance for France, told a news conference.

Faubert, who saw a move to AS Rome fall apart in 2007 when he played for Bordeaux, added the move was a giant leap forward as he received his new number 18 jersey from Real legend Alfredo di Stefano at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

"At Bordeaux I was supposed to sign for Rome but it didn't happen. It is a good comeback for me to be at Real Madrid. I am very happy to be here and it is an honour to receive the jersey from Stefano," he said.

Faubert, who is under contract with West Ham through 2012, will stay at Real until June. The defending Spanish champions will then have the option to sign him for a further three years.

He played for Cannes and then Bordeaux before heading to East London in 2007 - but an Achilles tendon rupture kept him sidelined shortly afterwards and he has not featured this season.

Shay Given completes move to Manchester City

From The Times

February 1, 2009

Manchester City have signed goalkeeper Shay Given from Newcastle on a four-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee, the club have confirmed.

The departure of the Ireland goalkeeper, one of most highly-rated in the Barclays Premier League, had been expected when Newcastle gave him permission to talk to the Eastlands club on Friday.

The news will be a blow to Joe Kinnear, the Newcastle manager, who made no secret of the fact that he was bitterly disappointed to lose Given with what appears to be a relegation battle looming.

"I've bent over backwards to keep Shay, and I have told the powers-that-be that he has got to stay," he had said. "But I understand it from Shay's point of view.

"He's done 11 years here at Newcastle, and I think he wants a new challenge. I would be heartbroken to see him go, because he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.”

City had two bids of £3m and £5m rejected, it is likely their ultimately successful third bid was in the region of £7m.

Steve Harper, Given’s deputy for many years, played in goal against Sunderland in Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby which finished 1-1.

Rio Ferdinand Hails 'Businesslike' Manchester United

Manchester United skipper Rio Ferdinand is delighted with his team's current form, and wants them to continue with their brisk momentum right up until the end of the season.

The Red Devils are chasing an unprecedented 'quadruple' of Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup, a feat never matched in England, although Celtic, of Scotland, managed such a feat in 1967, the year before United won their first European Cup.

Ferdinand has highighted the efficiency and professionalism in the current United squad, as they have overcome the adversity of a crowded fixture schedule and a long injury list to overhaul Liverpool at the top of the table in the last week.

"It is just about continuing what we have been doing. I think we have been very tight of late. We have got players who are very businesslike at the moment," Ferdiand explained to The Manchester Evening News today.

"The players want to get the job done, score goals, want to defend - and defend for our lives - and keep clean sheets.

"With that form, you are onto a good thing, but medals haven't been handed out yet so we are not going to get ahead of ourselves. We set ourselves a target, we have got to where we wanted to be at this stage, and we need to continue that now."

The commanding centre-back has missed 11 games this season due to a niggling back injury, allowing youngsters such as Jonny Evans to step into the breach and excel, but Rio remains confident that the injury can be managed effectively as he looks to help drive the side on to yet another successful season.

"I could have played a little bit longer at West Brom but the manager brought me off. I am fine. There are no problems," he added.

"I've just got to keep on top of it, keep working hard and keep doing my training, and continue to be injury free hopefully."

Zack Wilson, Goal.com

Cudicini makes Tottenham switch

Tottenham have completed the signing of goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini on a free transfer from Chelsea.

The 35-year-old joined the Blues on loan in 1999 from Italian side Castel Di Sangro and signed a permanent deal a year later, costing the club £130,000.

Cudicini will provide competition for Heurelho Gomes who has been the subject of much criticism this season.

"Chelsea can confirm Carlo Cudicini has signed for Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer," read a Chelsea statement.

"The club would like to take this opportunity to thank Carlo for his years of service and wish him well."

Tottenham paid PSV Eindhoven £7m for Brazilian Gomes in the summer and he struggled with his form initially before a string of improved displays.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, who also signed defender Pascal Chimbonda from Sunderland on Monday, has been looking for a goalkeeper after releasing reserve team keeper Cesar Sanchez earlier this month.

Voted Chelsea Player of the Year in 2002, Cudicini has found his chances limited since Petr Cech's arrival in 2004.

"I'm really happy to be here to take on this new challenge and I'm really looking forward to being part of this great team and great club," said Cudicini.

In total, he made 208 starts for Chelsea and he featured four times this season, most recently in the 1-1 FA Cup draw with Southend on 3 January.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have agreed the transfer of Hossam Ghaly to Saudi Arabian side Nassr Saudi Club.

The 27-year-old Egyptian midfielder joined Spurs in January 2006 from Dutch side Feyenoord and made 34 appearances, scoring three times.

He was booed by Spurs fans as he warmed up among the substitutes in the FA Cup win over Wigan on 2 January.

Ghaly has not played for the first team since May 2007 when he threw down his shirt in anger when he was replaced after coming on as a substitute.

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Tottenham Re-Sign Pascal Chimbonda

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has made his fourth signing of the January transfer window after acquiring Pascal Chimbonda from Sunderland, according to Sky Sports.

It will be the second time that Chimbonda will be unveiled as a Spurs player, as he was initially brought to White Hart Lane in 2006, only to leave for Sunderland last summer.

He has re-joined the lilywhites after only six months at the Black Cats for an undisclosed fee, expected to be in the region of £3 million.

Chimbonda is the fourth right back that Tottenham have signed in the past 12 months.

Alan Hutton (£8 million), Chris Gunter (£4 million), and Vedran Corluka (£8 million) have all failed to make the full back berth their own. With the purchase of Chimbonda, Tottenham will have spent over £23 million on right backs alone in the last year.

The 29-year old has received one international cap, and signs for Spurs on the same day that Redknapp has secured the free transfer of Italian goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.

The club are yet to comment on the Chimbonda swoop, but regarding the Cudicini transfer, a statement on tottenhamhotspur.com said: "We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Chelsea for the transfer of Carlo Cudicini to the Club."

Alan Dawson, Goal.com

Martin O'Neill Confident That Emile Heskey Will Provide 'Great Value' For Aston Villa

Martin O'Neill today confirmed that Aston Villa have had a bid of £3.5 million accepted by Wigan Athletic for Emile Heskey, and that he is looking forward to welcoming the player in to his squad once the formality of a medical had been completed.

"We've agreed a fee with Wigan, we're pleased to say," O'Neill told Sky Sports News earlier. "Emile is making his way down. Still, obviously, he has to do a medical. I'm hoping that he will join us."

When quizzed by reporters as to the qualities he expects Heskey to bring to his Villa side, he highlighted the player's versatility and strength, things that would be very much appreciated at Villa Park, where the squad is not the largest in the Premier League.

"I think that, first of all, we're in a decent position at this minute. We need to keep the momentum going," he added.

"We have been without John Carew now for over two months. We don't have the biggest squad in the world.

"Emile will give us another option. I believe he can play up front with Gabby Agbonlahor, Villa forward], he can play with John Carew. I think that he'll be excellent for us.

"I know him from his days at Leicester City when he was a young kid.

"I think he'll be great value for us."

Wigan manager Steve Bruce has already acted quickly in his search for a replacement for Hesky at the JJB Stadium, signing Egyptian striker Mido on loan from Middlesbrough until the end of the season.

Zack Wilson, Goal.com

Arsenal reject Atletico bid for Eboue

Arsenal has rejected a bid from Atletico Madrid for midfielder Emmanuel Eboue.

An offer was made to Eboue’s agent but the Gunners said they were not interested in doing a deal.

"We received an official request from Atletico Madrid which was passed to Arsenal," said agent Franjo Vranjkovic.

"I have the fax from director Ken Friar who wrote to me to say they are not interested in the offer.

"Then I received a call from Arsene Wenger, who invited me to go to England to start negotiations over a renewal.

"I see no possibility that the player will leave Arsenal."

source : tribalfootball.com

Newcastle United Sign Peter Lovenkrands

Newcastle United boss Joe Kinnear was impressed by 28-year-old Danish winger Peter Lovenkrands during a recent trial period, following his release from Schalke 04. The former Rangers player has now penned a deal at St James' Park and could make his debut in the next round of Premier League matches, when the Magpies take on Manchester City. The player says he can't wait to get started. He will wear the number 24 shirt and will initially play for the club until the end of the season. Greg Ptolomey, Goal.com

Hull City Sign Jimmy Bullard

Jimmy Bullard has signed for Premier League new boys Hull City in a £5 million deal after stalling on a new contract to stay at Fulham. The player has committed to a four and a half year deal, which expires in 2013. Tigers boss Phil Brown told the club's official website: "We're trying to improve a squad that has been competing in the Premier League and that just needed a bit of bolstering. "I think this signing shows everybody just how serious Paul Duffen, Phil Brown and Hull City are with regards to this year's Premier League."

He continued: "Jimmy is a good player, end of story."

Bullard signed for Fulham for £2 million in 2005, in a move that eventually prompted then-manager Chris Coleman to declare that it was the best £2 million he had ever spent.

The 30-year old has scored three goals this season: in the Carling Cup versus Leicester; and in the Premier League against Manchester City and Middlesbrough.

International call ups this season have been a just reward for his continued form in the Premier League, but he has yet to feature for England.

Jimmy Bullard's sense of humour is a thing of legend within England and his antics are often highlighted on Sky Sports 1 show Soccer AM.

He has been filmed in the Wigan Athletic changing room screaming: "Yeaargh!" while getting pushed around in the bin with his underwear on his head.

Alan Dawson, Goal.com

Kaka Signs For Manchester City - Arabian Reports

Kaka has been linked with the richest club in the world for several months now, but the speculation of a possible move really began to heat up earlier this week.

'Arabian Business' now claim that a deal has been sealed, which will see Manchester City pay Milan around €112 million, while Kaka will earn €380,000 per week.

This will smash Zinedine Zidane's transfer fee record from 2001 when he moved to Real Madrid from Juventus for €76m. Kaka also becomes the highest paid player in football history.

Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour is said to have told friends at 1500 CET that Kaka has signed for Manchester City, although there has been no official confirmation from the club, or from Milan for that matter.

Mansour took over the reigns at Eastlands in September, but he funded the €37m signing of Kaka's Brazilian compatriot Robinho on August 31 summer deadline day.

The Press Association claims that sources within Manchester City have denied that a deal has been done, although no official statement has been made.

Anthony Sormani

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pic : (AFP/File/Damien Meyer)

Manucho Loan Deal Sealed

Hull City have completed the signing of Manchester United striker Manucho on loan for the rest of the season.

Manucho goes straight into the squad for Saturday's clash with Arsenal after all the relevant paperwork was completed ahead of the midday deadline and he has been allocated squad number 28.

Manucho, full name Mateus Alberto Contreiras Goncalves, joined United in December 2007 following a successful trial with the Old Trafford club.

The 25-year-old, who had previously played for Petro Atletico in his native Angola and scored 34 goals in 78 appearances, spent the latter weeks of the 2007/08 campaign on loan with Greek club Panathinaikos and netted four times in seven games.

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